Absa Bank Tanzania, in collaboration with World Vision Tanzania, has officially handed over a solar-powered water well project and a water distribution network to the residents of Kwedizinga Village in Handeni District.
The handover ceremony for the project, sponsored by Absa Bank Tanzania for TZS 50 million, was held at the well site and attended by leaders from RUWASA, the village government, and other stakeholders. The guest of honor was the Tanga Regional Commissioner, Hon. Dr. Batilda Burian who was represented by the district’s District Commissioner, Hon. Salum Nyamwese.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Aron Luhanga, Head of Marketing and Corporate Relations at Absa Bank Tanzania, emphasized the purpose behind the project: “This is not just an infrastructure project; it’s a story of hope, humanity, and opportunity, for a long time, access to safe water has been a barrier to the future of Kwedizinga’s children, today, we are fulfilling our mission; Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together… one story at a time, we are proud to be a force for good in this community, because to us, every Tanzanian’s story matters.”
He noted that the project, which began a few months ago, now enables more than 3,800 residents from seven hamlets to access clean water reliably, Previously, the community depended on seasonal ponds that would dry up during the dry season, forcing women and children to walk over 2 kilometers daily in search of unsafe water.
“This well, with a depth of 180 meters, uses a solar-powered pump and stores water in a 50,000-liter elevated tank that supplies water via a gravity-fed system, the network includes pipelines and 10 water collection points distributed throughout the village,” he added.
On his part Mr. James Anditi, Director of World Vision Tanzania, said: “Our core desire at World Vision Tanzania is to see every child flourish and live a life filled with hope and opportunity. Clean water is not just a basic necessity for life, it is a foundation for child protection, health, education, and economic resilience, this project, part of our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) strategy, reflects that vision by creating a safe and healthy environment where children can thrive.”
“We sincerely thank Absa Bank for partnering with us to ensure that the children of Kwedizinga now spend more time in classrooms rather than fetching water, and that families are protected from preventable diseases like diarrhea and typhoid. This is an example of the lasting, positive impact we aim to bring to communities,” Mr. Anditi added.
The guest of honor at the ceremony, Handeni District Commissioner Hon. Salum Nyamwese, speaking on behalf of the Tanga Regional Commissioner, Hon. Dr. Batilda Burian, said the project serves as a model of successful collaboration between the public and private sectors to solve community needs and challenges.
“This project demonstrates that with shared goals, we can solve even the greatest challenges in our communities, I extend sincere congratulations to Absa Bank and World Vision for setting a national example to follow,” he said.
The project directly supports the Water Sector Development Programme (WSDP) Phase III and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
